Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Emmanuel Onuche, over allegations gross misconduct and actions said to have caused disrepute to the state government.

The suspension was announced during the plenary of the House on Wednesday.

Onuche was directed to hand over the affairs of the council to his Vice Chairman, Victoria Okolo, pending the conclusion of investigations.

The House resolved to commence investigation into the allegations against the suspended chairman, noting the investigation would not be possible while he remains in office.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, constituted a five-member committee headed by Hon. Bode Ogunmola to investigate the allegations.

Other members of the committee are Hon. Ishaya Omotayo Adeleye (Ijumu state constituency), Hon. Asema Baba Haruna (Adavi state constituency) Anthony Ujah (Olamaboro state constituency and Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani (Lokoja 1 state constituency), while Muhammed Bello is to serve as clerk of the committee.

The committee is expected to submit its report within one month.

Meanwhile, three members of the Kogi State House of Assembly have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers who switched parties are Hon. Bode Ogunmola (of the People’s Democratic Party, representing – Ogori/Magongo local government) Hon. Sunday Daku (als of the PDP representing – Bassa local government) and Hon. Idowu Ibikunle ( of Action Democratic Alliance, ADC representing Yagba East local government respectively.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf who read their letters of defection during plenary, commended the members for their bold decisions to join the APC and for identifying with the good performance of the ruling party in the state.